Ancient History – WBCS Preliminary Question Paper (Yearwise)

WBCS Prelims PYQ

Ancient History Question Paper – 2022

1. Who is the composer of Allahabad Prasasti?

(A) Harishena
(B) Bishakhdutta
(C) Kalidasa
(D) Shudrak

(A) Harishen

2. Earliest fossil remains of archaic Homo sapiens has been found in
(1982, Arun Sonakia)

(A) Siwalik hills
(B) Narmada valley
(C) Nallamalai hills
(D) Chotanagpur Plateau

(B) Narmada valley

4. 70. Arrange the list of foreign travellers in chronological order:
(a) Xuanzang (Hieun Tsang )
(b) Itsing
(c) Fa Tsien
(d) Megasthenes

(A) (a), (b), (c), (d)
(B) (a), (d), (b), (c)
(C) (d), (c), (a), (b)
(D) (d), (c), (b), (a)

(C) (d), (c), (a), (b)

4. Match the following:
(a) Kot Diji                            1. Luigi Pio Tessitori
(b) Harappa                          2. F.A. Khan, G.S. Ghurye
(c) Kalibangan                    3. Daya Ram Sahani
(d) Mohenjodaro              4. Rakhal Das Bandyopadhyay

(A) (a-2), (b-3), (c-1), (d-4)
(B) (a – 1), (b-3), (c-2), (d-4)
(C) (a-4), (b-1), (c-2), (d-3)
(D) (a-3), (b-2), (c-4), (d-1)

(A) (a-2), (b-3), (c-1), (d-4)

5. Who among the following stated that there was no slavery in India?

(A) Strabo
(B) Ptolemy
(C) Megasthenes
(D) Xuanzang (Hieun Tsang )

(C) Megasthenes

6. In which of the following inscriptions we find earliest reference to ‘Sati’?
(Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh)

(A) Asokan inscription of Girnar
(B) Aihole inscription
(C) Eran inscription
(D) Damodarpur inscription

(C) Eran inscription

7. Earliest evidence of settled agriculture in the subcontinent comes from
(5500-4800 BC, Neolithic)

(A) Utnur
(B) Burzahom
(C) Mehrgarh
(D) Bagor

(C) Mehrgarh

8. The Gupta King who destroyed Sakas was

(A) Samudra Gupta
(B) Chandra Gupta-I
(C) Kumara Gupta
(D) Chandra Gupta-II

(D) Chandra Gupta-II

9. The first sermon of Gautama Buddha is called

(A) Mahabhinishkraman
(B) Dharmachakra Pravartana
(C) Dhammaghos
(D) Mahaparinirvana

(B) Dharmachakra Pravartana

10. Who among the following was the Greek king of Syria mentioned in Asokan edict?

(A) Antiochus II Theos
(B) Ptolemy II
(C) Antigonus
(D) Alexander

(A) Antiochus II Theos

11. Match List-I with List-II:
List-I                 List-II
(a) Moriyas   1. Pippalivana
(b) Videhas   2. Mithila
(c) Licchavis   3. Vaishali
(d) Mallas   4. Kapilavastu
Which of the above is/are not properly matched?

(A) (a-1), (b-2), (c-3)
(B) (d-4)
(C) (c-3), (d-4)
(D) All of the above

(B) (d-4)

Ancient History Question Paper – 2021

1. Who is the author of Allahabad Pillar Inscription ?

(A) Rudradaman
(B) Harisena
(C) Samudragupta
(D) Banabhatta

(B) Harisena

2.  When did Sakabda commence ?

(A) 78 A.D.
(B) 78 B.C.E.
(C) 178 B.C.E.
(D) 178 A.D.

(A) 78 A.D.

Ancient History Question Paper – 2020

1. Boghazkoi is important because

(A) it is known as significant trading centre between Central Asia and Tibet.
(B) the original text of the Vedas was composed there.
(C) inscription found here mention the names of Vedic Gods and Goddesses.
(D) None of the above

(C) inscription found here mention the names of Vedic Gods and Goddesses.

2. Which among the following places has given the earliest evidence of agriculture in Indian Subcontinent?
(7000 to 2000 BCE)

(A) Pratapgarh
(B) Mehergarh
(C) Quetta
(D) Kalat

(B) Mehergarh

3. Who among the following historians has written the book entitled ‘The wonder that was India‘ ?

(A) A. L. Basham
(B) Alison Bashford
(C) R. C. Majumder
(D) Satish Chandra

(A) A. L. Basham

4. What were the two assemblies during the early Vedic period ?

(A) Samiti
(B) Sabha
(C) Samiti and Sangam
(D) Both (A) and (B)

(D) Both (A) and (B)

5. Which of the following is a correct statement about Indus Valley civilization ?

(A) Both Harappa and Mohenjodaro are located on the banks of river Ravi (Irabati).
(B) Both Chanhudaro and Kalibangan were located within the boundaries of present day Rajasthan.
(C) Both Surkotada and Dholavira are located in the Kutchh region of Gujarat
(D) Lothal site was located on the bank of Narmada river.

(C) Both Surkotada and Dholavira are located in the Kutchh region of Gujarat

Ancient History Question Paper – 2019

1. Where did Gautama Buddha attain Nirvana (enlightenment) ?

(A) Lumbini
(B) Sarnath
(C) Kusinagar
(D) Bodh Gaya

(D) Bodh Gaya

2. Who wrote Mrichhakatikam ?

(A) Vishakhasdatta
(B) Shudrak
(C) Banabhatta
(D) Bhas

(B) Shudrak

3. Who among the following succeeded Samudragupta as the next ruler of the Gupta dynasty ?

(A) Chandragupta II
(B) Vishnugupta
(C) Chandragupta I
(D) Skandagupta

(A) Chandragupta II

4. Which among the following places have given the earliest evidence of agriculture in Indian sub-continent ?

(A) Pratapgarh
(B) Mehrgarh
(C) Quetta
(D) Kalat

(B) Mehrgarh

5. The inscriptions of Ashoka and the Brahmi scripts were deciphered by
(1838)

(A) Alexander Cunningham
(B) James Princep
(C) Max Muller
(D) Mortimer Wheeler

(B) James Princep

Ancient History Question Paper – 2018

1. Who was the writer of ‘Buddha Charita’?

(a) Buddhaghosha
(b) Ashvaghosha
(c) Nagarjuna
(d) Panini

(b) Ashvaghosha

2. Which among the following Harappan sites is not located in Gujrat?
(Haryana)

(a) Surkotada
(b) Lothal
(c) Dholavira
(d) Banwali

(d) Banwali

3. Which kingdom covered the modern Patna and Gaya districts of Bihar?

(a) Anga
(b) Kosala
(c) Magadha
(d) Avanti

(c) Magadha

4. Where did Gautama Buddha deliver his first sermon?

(a) Bodh Gaya
(b)Shravasti
(c) Sarnath
(d) Vaishali

(c) Sarnath

5. Who came to India during the time of Chandragupta Maurya?

(a) Faxian (Fa Hien)
(b) Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)
(c) Megasthenes
(d) Strabo

(c) Megasthenes

6. Who was referred to as ‘Sandrocottus’ in the writings of the Greeks?

(a) Asoka
(b) Bindusara
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) Dhanananda

(c) Chandragupta Maurya

7. Who was the author of “Brihatsamhita”
(chandragupta II)

(a) Aryabhatta
(b) Varahamihira
(c) Amarasimha
(d) Brahmagupta

(b) Varahamihira

8. Which Gupta ruler repulsed Huna invasion?

(a) Samudragupta
(b) Chandragupta II
(c) Skandagupta
(d) Kumaragupta

(c) Skandagupta

9. Which historian is famous for his research on Ancient Indian History?
(Secular historian)

(a) Sathis Chandra
(b) Bipan Chandra
(c) Ram Sharan Sharma
(d) Amalesh Tripathi

(c) Ram Sharan Sharma

Ancient History Question Paper – 2017

1. The Mauryan ruler who used the name ‘Piyadasi’ in his official declaration was
(13th rock edict)

(A) Bimbisara
(B) Ashoka
(C) Chandragupta Maurya
(D) Brihaddrata

(B) Ashoka

2. Which of the following is a Harappan site located in Rajasthan ?

(A) Mohenjo Daro
(B) Suktagen Dor
(C) Kalibangan
(D) Lothal

(C) Kalibangan

3. The author of ‘Kadambari‘ was
(Harshacharita)

(A) Kshemendra
(B) Kalhana
(C) Bhababhuti
(D) Banabhatta

(D) Banabhatta

4. The famous physician during Budhha’s time was
(Ayurveda Physician)

(A) Kautilya
(B) Nachiketa
(C) Charaka
(D) Jivaka

(D) Jivaka

5. Which Magadha ruler was known as ‘Seniya”

(A) Bimbisara
(B) Ajatshatru
(C) Mahapadma Nanda
(D) Chandragupta Maurya

(A) Bimbisara

6. The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang came to India during the reign of
(630-645 AD)

(A) Samudra Gupta
(B) Ashoka
(C) Harshavardhan
(D) Kulotunga

(C) Harshavardhan

Ancient History Question Paper – 2016

1. According to Buddhism the cause of all sorrows is :

(A) Maya
(B) Kama
(C) Trishna
(D) Krodh

(C) Trishna

2. The Upanishadas were compiled around :

(A) 600 BC
(B) 800 BC
(C) 1000 BC
(D) 1600-600 BC

(A) 600 BC

3. Rice cultivation is associated with the Harappan site of :

(A) Kalibangan
(B) Lothal
(C) Kot Diji
(D) Ropar

(B) Lothal

4. The most famous Indo-Greek ruler of India was :

(A) Demetrius
(B) Antiochus I
(C) Menander
(D) None of the above

(C) Menander

5. The decline of the Nandas at the hands of Kautilya and Chandragapta Maurya has been vividly portrayed in the Sanskrit Play.
(Vishakhadatta)

(A) Mrichhakatika
(B) Devi Chandragupta
(C) Mattavilasa
(D) Mudrarakshasa

(D) Mudrarakshasa

6. Who is considered as the father of Indian Archaeology ?
(1861, Archaeological Survey of India)

(A) Alexander Cunningham
(B) Gordon Child
(C) Mortimer Wheeler
(D) John Marshall

(A) Alexander Cunningham

Ancient History Question Paper – 2015

1. The author of Kadambari was
(court poet of Harsha)

(A) Khemendra
(B) Kalhana
(C) Bhababhuti
(D) Banabhatta

(D) Banabhatta

2. Which was the ancient port of Indus Civilization ?
(Gujarat)

(A) Harappa
(B) Lothal
(C) Dholavira
(D) Surkotada

(B) Lothal

3. Which of the following was not a Buddhist genealogical text ?
(history of Sri Lanka)

(A) Suttapitaka
(B) Vinayapitaka
(C) Abhidharnmapitaka
(D) Dipavansa

(D) Dipavansa

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